5 Key Things I learned at the AL DíA Women's Summit

Photo Credit: Patrick Fitzgerald, AL DíA News

Today for #ThrowbackThursday, I am sharing my experiences from attending the AL DíA Women's Summit. This phenomenal and encouraging event was held on Friday, November 2nd at Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia. Being surrounded by fierce Latina women has continued to fuel my ambition throughout this week. Various presentations and panel discussions covered everything from cardiovascular health to the importance of your social media image. Below are the 5 things I will carry with me through my personal and professional growth.

1.Statistics about the Latinx and Hispanic Communities in the United States

Sara Manazno-Diaz, Former Director of the Women's Bureau at U.S. Department of Labor, presented as a keynote speaker and spoke about various statistics that impact Latina women nationwide. One of the figures I found most troubling was the salary gap between Latina women and their peers. Latina women make 55 cents to the dollar when compared to white, non-Hispanic males. In comparison, white women make 78.1 cents to the same dollar. Talk about discouraging, yikes! However, studies show that the Hispanic population is growing at a rapid pace and is projected to be 160 million in 2060. Translation? Latinos and Hispanics are not going anywhere.

2. Mentorship Vs. Sponsorship

Talk about women on FIRE! Uva Coles, Associate Vice President, Civil & Global Engagement Widener University and Maria Vizcarrondo, Former Director of Community Development & External Relations, Cabrini University, had a dynamic conversation about the importance of having mentors and sponsors. From my understanding and experience, a mentor is a person or persons who give you guidance on professional and personal growth. A mentor is a leader that you can confide in and they help you reach your full potential. I am fortunate to have many mentors and they have made a substantial difference in my life. A sponsor is what I like to call a hype man such as DJ Khaled, "WE DA BEST". This person acts as a mentor and promoter when you are not present. They validate your greatness and ensure that you are beautifully represented. Most importantly, mentorship and sponsorship is a two way street. It is your responsibility to seek and contact the person you feel is a perfect fit to guide you through your journey.

3. Social Media Image

Vai Vargas, Founder & CEO: The Latinista, gave an informative presentation about how to properly portray yourself on various social media platforms. Since her presentation, I have been more cautious about what I post on social media and I updated my LinkedIn profile. The few tips she suggested that resonated with me the most are the following:

• Be consistent throughout all social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
• Your LinkedIn profile description should be the story of your journey.
• Store your response messages on a digital sticky-note so you are able to be consistent when connecting and responding to fellow followers.

After her presentation Raquel M. Arrendondo, Associate Director, Outreach, Engagement & Professional Development, Drexel University's Lebow College of Business and Natily Santos, Regional sourcing & Supplier Diversity Director at Aramark joined Vai in an insightful conversation about personal development and growth. I asked a question about how to present my activism on my social media platforms. Their response? If you are passionate about it, OWN IT!

4. Nina Vaca

The stories about her life and established organization, Pinnacle Group, was everything I needed to hear in order to continue my journey. Her ability to remain resilient and humble through chaos truly portrays the power that Latina women possess. She is a true inspiration and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to see her speak in person.

5. We are all WINNERS

I attended the AL DíA Women's Summit as a Women of Merit Honoree and left as a complete Latina champion. This event provided me with all of the necessary tools for me to continue my professional growth. The positive encouragement from my fellow nominees and honorees truly shows how magnificent all of these women are. As women we must continue to encourage one another because we are in this adventure called life together. It is time that we treat each other with more compassion and less competitiveness. I look forward to attending this event next year. See you there!

Sincerely,

Yashira Marie "Yaya" Rivera